Barcelona set unwanted record in Champions League
Barça’s quarterfinal exit laid bare a problem that has dogged the team for months and keeps raising doubts about its ceiling in Europe.
Barcelona will have to wait to lift a sixth European Cup. The Catalan side was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Atlético de Madrid, and one of the main reasons for its exit was its defensive frailty. Barça failed to keep a clean sheet in either leg of the tie, and both games ended with the team down to 10 men.
When was Barça’s last UCL clean sheet?
According to data provided by Opta, Barcelona set an unwanted Champions League record for Spanish soccer yesterday. It is the first team in Spanish soccer history to concede in 15 straight games in the competition. The last time it kept a clean sheet was in last season’s quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund at Montjuïc, when it won 4-0. Since then, it has allowed at least one goal in every game.
Across those 15 games, Hansi Flick’s team is averaging almost two goals conceded per game, having allowed 28 goals from the 151 shots it has faced. Those numbers have proved costly for the Catalan club.
Several former players have criticized Barcelona’s defense, including Samuel Umtiti: “I’m still disappointed with this Barcelona side, especially defensively, because they picked up two red cards in two games.” Toni Kroos also said the defense has been its downfall: “Playing like that, anyone can knock them out of the Champions League. They are far too exposed at the back.”
Troy Deeney also weighed in with criticism: “They are never going to win a competition like the Champions League under Hansi Flick. The way they play means they take far too many risks defensively.”
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